Some thoughts on the 5A brackets...

Here are some random observations about the first-round games this week and the playoffs, in general.

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When we’ve had the opportunity to see The Woodlands play this season, the one area that has always stood out to both Brett Mills and I was the play of the Highlanders’ defense. They are a hard-hitting bunch with instincts for being around the football at the right times. But in their first-round Class 5A Region II Division 1 matchup this week, they could be tested unlike any they’ve faced so far in 2009.

The Klein Forest Golden Eagles averaged 41 points per game this season and have a tag-team monster in Matt Davis and Cory Idlebird that can wear down a defense.

But, a few weeks back, I had said to several people that if the Highlanders went into Lufkin and defeated the Panthers on their home turf, I’d start really believing in The Woodlands. They did; I do. I think TWHS has the swarming defense to slow down Davis and Company enough to bring the Highlanders a victory. I expect a good, close game—but The Woodlands will move on.

And as for the Cypress Falls Golden Eagles? Will I predict that they’ll knock off the Stony Point Tigers? Sorry, no. If I were picking with my heart, I definitely would. But my head overrides and says that there’s no way the Eagles’ defense can shut down Stony Point. Having said that, if a miracle can be wrought, I’d believe that David Raffield can be the ‘wroughter’.

Ultimately, in 5A Region II Division 1, I believe that the regional final matchup will be The Woodlands-DeSoto, and I believe that the Highlanders will win the region.

In the Class 5A Region III Division 1 bracket, even though it’s early, I believe that the winner of this week’s North Shore-Pearland game has to be considered a solid favorite to make it to the regional final. I know that North Shore uncharacteristically lost the District 21-5A championship to gritty Beaumont West Brook team, but that game should only prove to be a catalyst in Professor David Aymond’s chemistry lab when it comes to coming up with a playoff potion for the Mustangs.

On the other side of the 5A Region III Division 1 bracket, I believe Cinco Ranch and Hightower are on a collision course with each other in the regional semifinal round.

I predict we’ll see a Hightower-North Shore regional final. I like the Hurricanes to make it through.

My prediction for the 5A Division 1 Final Four: Coppell (Region I), The Woodlands (Region II), Hightower (Region III) and Converse Judson (Region IV).

Wouldn’t it be great to see a Woodlands-Hightower 5A D-1 state championship game? Okay…I’ll predict it. Remember, you read it here first!

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In Class 5A Region II Division 2, I will again go with the team who has proven to have the best defense: Klein Collins. The Tigers finally allowed a couple of teams more than 20 points in a game for the first time in Drew Svoboda’s tenure. It took Westfield an overtime to manage to score 21 points (the Tigers held them to 14 points in regulation), and Klein Forest scored 21 in the regular-season finale.

Those are two high-octane offenses and neither could generate more than three TDs against Klein Collins. I’m hard-pressed to believe that other (lesser) offenses will fare any better. Klein Collins allowed an average of 11 points per game this season in arguably the toughest district in the state. In the playoffs, if you can hold your opponents to 14 points or less, you can basically write your own ticket through the bracket.

I like the Tigers to make it through their side of the bracket to play Lufkin in the regional final.

Finally, in the Class 5A Region III Division 2 bracket, how can you NOT pencil in the Katy Tigers? I can’t make a firm case for any other team in the bracket to knock off the Big Red Machine. The closest thing to a mystery in my mind, regarding Katy, is whether Allen will make it back to the state championship game for a rematch of last year’s final. (For the record, I personally think Cedar Hill will make it through from Region I.)

My prediction for the 5A Division 2 Final Four: Cedar Hill (Region I), Klein Collins (Region II), Katy (Region III) and San Antonio Reagan (Region IV).

Perhaps because the images of William Cole running all over Cypress Falls in the 2006 state championship game are still indelibly burned into my memory, I’ll predict a Katy-Cedar Hill 5A D-2 final.

Please prove me wrong, Klein Collins!